Lockout is Over.....2013 Preseason Talk!

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

Vanek(26) Hodgson(19) Pominville(29)
Foligno(82) Ennis(63) Stafford(21)
Ott(9) Grigorenko(25) Leino(23)
Scott(#) Ellis(37) Kaleta(36)

is this what we are looking at to start with Gerbe and McCormick out? I cant imagine 25 not getting a look with 2-3 spots open to start.

I can't help but think Pomms will be Grigs mentor so, plus Leino played decent going down the stretch playing with Pomms, and Tropps sandpaper helped Vanek so I believe it will be:

Vanek - CoHo - Ott
FES
Leino - Grigs - Pomms
who cares 4th line.....

 

[1972]

Scott will get games here and there, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Porter centering Ellis and Kaleta, at least until Gerbe gets back and they had the option to keep up Porter or move Ellis inside.

I was wondering about Porter but he has never been mentioned by Ruff or Regier or even been invited to camp has he? I still think Hecht will be here.

 

[Jacob582]

My feeling is Gerbe and McCormick won't miss much time.

I can see Porter up too. Or Flynn if you need a RW.

Either way Sabres and Amerks need more depth at forward. Look for an acquisition or two(trade, FA??)

 

[JOHNBOY]

I was wondering about Porter but he has never been mentioned by Ruff or Regier or even been invited to camp has he? I still think Hecht will be here.

My gut tells me Hecht will be in training camp too..

 

[Rhett4]

My feeling is Gerbe and McCormick won't miss much time.

I can see Porter up too. Or Flynn if you need a RW.

Either way Sabres and Amerks need more depth at forward. Look for an acquisition or two(trade, FA??)

Flynn is a perfectly good kid and player in Rochester, but this is a 48-game season. You can't come out of the gate with Flynn in your lineup if you're serious about the playoffs. I expect Darcy to sign Hecht, and I am hoping he brings in a forward via trade for a defenseman.

 

[DJN21]

maybe time has softened me and diluted my good senses but I find myself eagerly awaiting the report that claims we brought hecht back on the cheap...whats going on?

 

[tsujimoto74]

I can't help but think Pomms will be Grigs mentor so, plus Leino played decent going down the stretch playing with Pomms, and Tropps sandpaper helped Vanek so I believe it will be:

Vanek - CoHo - Ott
FES
Leino - Grigs - Pomms
who cares 4th line.....

Did it though? I'm pretty sure Vanek scored something like 19 of his 26 goals last year with Pommer on his line. Those guys have good chemistry together.

 

[joshjull]

Scott will get games here and there, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Porter centering Ellis and Kaleta, at least until Gerbe gets back and they had the option to keep up Porter or move Ellis inside.

I'd be surprised if Porter was up unless its an emergency. The Amerks are going to take quite a hit with Hodgson and Foligno coming up. I highly doubt we bring up their captain on top of that.

Add to that Ruff never mentioned him once today when talking about the center position. But he did mention Ellis.

 

[Dynamo81]

Reading this thread it seems you guys think Misha will make his NHL Debut on the opening night of this season?

How sure are you guys, 75%?

Would be great for him.

 

[jBuds]

Repost from the Ruff thread ...

Sabres to scrimmage Amerks???

Ruff apparently said as much...

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articl...place-for-start-of-shortened-NHL-season.html#

With no time for the NHL to squeeze in a preseason schedule, Ruff raised the possibility of having the Sabres play a scrimmage against Rochester, their American Hockey League affiliate.

Edit: the Hockey news.

 

[Jacob582]

Flynn is a perfectly good kid and player in Rochester, but this is a 48-game season. You can't come out of the gate with Flynn in your lineup if you're serious about the playoffs. I expect Darcy to sign Hecht, and I am hoping he brings in a forward via trade for a defenseman.

I agree.

I meant as a depth player in case of injury.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Repost from the Ruff thread ...

Sabres to scrimmage Amerks???

Ruff apparently said as much...

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articl...place-for-start-of-shortened-NHL-season.html#



Edit: the Hockey news.

Make this an exhibition game in Buffalo. Either way that'd be pretty cool.

 

[Woodhouse]

Reading this thread it seems you guys think Misha will make his NHL Debut on the opening night of this season?

How sure are you guys, 75%?

Would be great for him.

Well, we're down two forwards with Gerbe and McCormick sidelined to start the season, so as the roster stands, Grigorenko has a good chance to get a look. However, the minute an extra D is traded for a forward OR a forward's recalled from Rochester OR Hecht/UFA is signed, the likelihood of his inclusion diminishes. There are no guarantees until we hear how he looks in camp relative to the team; then we'll know better what they'll do with him this season.

 

[Woodhouse]

Repost from the Ruff thread ...

Sabres to scrimmage Amerks???

Repost in this thread too.

After Regier and Ruff brought up this option with the media, I said there's not much flexibility in scheduling this without being detrimental to the AHL team:

Rochester has five games between now and January 19 though, which makes Monday the most feasible day to schedule a H2H scrimmage as any other date would be a day before/after an AHL game and I'm assuming Buffalo would also factor in Rochester's travel/fatigue levels.

 

[Dynamo81]

Well, we're down two forwards with Gerbe and McCormick sidelined to start the season, so as the roster stands, Grigorenko has a good chance to get a look. However, the minute an extra D is traded for a forward OR a forward's recalled from Rochester OR Hecht/UFA is signed, the likelihood of his inclusion diminishes. There are no guarantees until we hear how he looks in camp relative to the team; then we'll know better what they'll do with him this season.

Cheers

 

[copter]

nervermind

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

TBN saying we are most likely opening season on the 20th against Philly and that we are the odd team out who won't play opening day... Cool.

Of course I can wait another day to watch my team play I've waited 100+ days haven't I

 

[flyingpig]

TBN saying we are most likely opening season on the 20th against Philly and that we are the odd team out who won't play opening day... Cool.

Of course I can wait another day to watch my team play I've waited 100+ days haven't I

Maybe it has to do with our request for less back to backs this year? League took us literally.

 

[NoClue4u]

I know the line-up for this year are pretty much set, but what do people think about something like...

Vanek-CoHo-Pommers
Ennis-Grigs-Stafford
Foligno-Leino-Ott
4th Line

It gives us a solid energy line in the 3rd line that can probably contribute a few goals. Though it would probably be rushing Grigorenko. Thoughts? Maybe next year?

 

[couture23]

I know the line-up for this year are pretty much set, but what do people think about something like...

Vanek-CoHo-Pommers
Ennis-Grigs-Stafford
Foligno-Leino-Ott
4th Line

It gives us a solid energy line in the 3rd line that can probably contribute a few goals. Though it would probably be rushing Grigorenko. Thoughts? Maybe next year?

If the F-E-S line loses its chemistry then this is certainly a possibility since Foligno is a 3rd line player. As of now, yeah this is rushing Grigs.

We tried Leino at centre last year and it didn't work out, so safe to say we won't be going down that road again.

 

[HockeyH3aven]

I know the line-up for this year are pretty much set, but what do people think about something like...

Vanek-CoHo-Pommers
Ennis-Grigs-Stafford
Foligno-Leino-Ott
4th Line

It gives us a solid energy line in the 3rd line that can probably contribute a few goals. Though it would probably be rushing Grigorenko. Thoughts? Maybe next year?

Ennis is a center. Leino is not a center.

 

[Ralonzo]

It'll be pro-rated for a 48 game schedule. DIRECTV says "as soon as full details are available, it will once again be available for sale."

I'd be interested if they didn't block off 10 or so HD channels for the purpose of showing 1 HD game (if you're lucky) and all the rest SD.

Screw that.

 

[Woodhouse]

Enroth, Myers, Pardy and Sekera were the newcomers to the skate today. Myers reportedly skating fine; and FWIW, Pardy had a #27 sticker on his Sabres helmet, while Scott had a #32.

Miller expected at tomorrow's skate.

 

[MacOfNiagara]

Enroth, Myers, Pardy and Sekera were the newcomers to the skate today. Myers reportedly skating fine; and FWIW, Pardy had a #27 sticker on his Sabres helmet, while Scott had a #32.

Miller expected at tomorrow's skate.

Pepsi Center? FNC?

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

Sorry if this is discussed somewhere else or this is the wrong threat to ask thi, but what is Andrew Peters' role in the organization? I keep hearing people drop his name (Ruff in his presser for example). Is he a trainer or just having fun with the guys during informal drills and skates?